Patrick Roy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick Roy
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2006
Roy at a media interview in 2012
Born	(1965-10-05) October 5, 1965 (age 59) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight	190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
Played for	Montreal Canadiens Colorado Avalanche
Current NHL coach	New York Islanders
Coached for	Colorado Avalanche
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	51st overall, 1984 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	1984–2003
Coaching career	2005–present

Patrick Jacques Roy (born October 5, 1965) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the New York Islanders in the National Hockey League (NHL). Roy also coached the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL and the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players ever and was called the "king of goaltenders" by sports experts.

People often called him "Saint Patrick" because of his amazing skills. Roy played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 11 years with the Montreal Canadiens and eight years with the Colorado Avalanche. He won the Stanley Cup four times during his playing career, two times with each team.

In 2004, a group of 41 writers and many fans chose Roy as the greatest goaltender in NHL history. On November 13, 2006, Roy was honored and joined the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (the award for the Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup playoffs) three times. He is also the only one to win it in three different decades (1980s, 1990s, and 2000s) and for two different teams. Both the Canadiens and Avalanche have retired his number 33 jersey, meaning no other player on those teams can wear it.

Roy is famous for making the butterfly style of goaltending popular. This style, where goalies drop to their knees to block shots, is now used by most goalies around the world.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Roy was born in Quebec City, Canada, and grew up nearby in Cap-Rouge. His parents are Barbara and Michel Roy, and he has a younger brother named Stéphane. Patrick became interested in being a hockey goaltender when he was seven years old. He played in the 1977 and 1978 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a local youth hockey team from Quebec City. His brother Stéphane also played on the team in 1978. After playing for the Sainte-Foy Gouverneurs, he joined the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL. He then started his professional career with the Sherbrooke Canadiens in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Playing Career Highlights

Montreal Canadiens (1984–1995)

The Montreal Canadiens picked Roy in the third round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 51st player chosen overall. Even though he was a fan of the rival Quebec Nordiques, he joined the Canadiens. On February 23, 1985, he made his NHL debut. He played for 20 minutes and earned his first NHL win without letting in any goals. After this game, he went back to play for the Sherbrooke Canadiens in the AHL. There, he became the starting goaltender for the playoffs and helped his team win the Calder Cup championship.

The next season, Roy began playing regularly for the Canadiens. He became the main goaltender when Steve Penney got injured. Roy played 47 games and became a star in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He led his team to an unexpected Stanley Cup title and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the playoffs. At just 20 years old, he was the youngest player ever to win this award and was chosen for the NHL All-Rookie Team.

After this big win, people started calling him "St. Patrick." Roy continued to play for the Canadiens. They won their division in 1988 and 1989. In 1989, they lost to the Calgary Flames in the Stanley Cup Finals. Roy, along with Brian Hayward, won the William M. Jennings Trophy three times (1987, 1988, and 1989). This award goes to the goaltenders on the team that allows the fewest goals. In 1989 and 1990, he also won the Vezina Trophy for the best goaltender in the NHL and was chosen for the NHL first All-Star team. In 1992, the Canadiens won their division again, and Roy had a great year, winning both the William M. Jennings Trophy and the Vezina Trophy.

In the 1992–93 season, the Canadiens faced their rivals, the Quebec Nordiques, in the playoffs. Roy had a tough start, but he bounced back strongly. He then led his team to an amazing 11-game playoff winning streak. This included a record ten straight overtime wins. Roy led his team to win the Stanley Cup and was again named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.

In 1994, the Canadiens were the defending champions but lost in the first round. Roy showed his toughness when he played Game 4 of that series despite having appendicitis. He convinced doctors to let him play and helped the Canadiens win.

Trade to Colorado

In the 1995–96 season, Mario Tremblay became the new head coach for the Canadiens. Roy and Tremblay had a difficult relationship. On December 2, 1995, the Canadiens had a very bad home game, losing 11–1 to the Detroit Red Wings. Roy allowed nine goals. During the game, Roy made a sarcastic gesture to the crowd after an easy save. Tremblay eventually took Roy out of the game.

After being pulled from the game, Roy went to the team's president, Ronald Corey, and said, "It's my last game in Montreal." The next day, the Canadiens suspended Roy. Roy later said he believed Tremblay kept him in the game to embarrass him.

Four days after this incident, the Canadiens traded Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, Montreal received Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ručinský, and Andrei Kovalenko. Many people thought this trade was very unbalanced, and it became known as one of the most one-sided deals in NHL history.

Colorado Avalanche (1996–2003)

After joining the Colorado Avalanche in the 1995–96 season, Roy helped his new team win their first Stanley Cup in their very first season after moving from Quebec. He was a top contender for the Vezina Trophy that year.

In the 1996 playoffs, during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Roy famously responded to a comment from Blackhawks player Jeremy Roenick. Roenick had said he wanted to know where Roy was in a previous game. Roy replied, "I can't really hear what Jeremy says, because I've got my two Stanley Cup rings plugging my ears." Roy and the Avalanche went on to win the Stanley Cup.

Roy was a big part of the intense rivalry between the Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings. They met in the playoffs five times between 1996 and 2002. Roy even got into fights with other goalies, like Mike Vernon and Chris Osgood, during these heated games.

In the 2000–01 season, Roy's Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy for having the best record in the regular season. In the playoffs, they reached the Finals and faced the New Jersey Devils. Roy had an amazing performance in Game 6, getting his record 19th career playoff shutout. The Avalanche then won Game 7, securing their second Stanley Cup. Roy was named playoff MVP for the third time in his career, which is an NHL record. Roy said he and his teammates really wanted to win the Cup for Ray Bourque, who finally won his first Cup after 22 seasons in the NHL.

Patrick Roy's final game was on April 22, 2003, against the Minnesota Wild. His team lost in overtime in the first round of the playoffs. Roy announced his retirement on May 28, 2003.

International Play

Roy was chosen to be Canada's starting goaltender for the 1998 Winter Olympics. He played all six games. Canada lost to the Czech Republic in the semifinal in a shootout. After this loss, Canada also lost the bronze medal game to Finland. This meant Roy did not win an Olympic medal.

Roy chose not to play for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics.

After Playing Hockey

Roy behind the bench as the head coach of the Quebec Remparts during a game in 2009

After retiring from playing in the NHL, Roy joined the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He became the team's vice-president of hockey operations, owner, and general manager. On September 29, 2005, he was also named the head coach of the team.

On May 28, 2006, the Remparts won the 2006 Memorial Cup, which is the top Canadian junior hockey tournament. Roy was the seventh coach to win the Cup in his first year as a coach.

Roy had some incidents during his time as coach of the Remparts. In 2007, there was a report of an argument between Roy and another team's co-owner. Roy later apologized, and the complaint was dropped. In 2008, his son Jonathan, who was a goalie for the Remparts, was involved in a fight on the ice. Patrick Roy was suspended for five games and fined for this incident. His other son, Frederick, also faced a suspension while playing for the Remparts.

In May 2009, Roy was offered the head coaching job with the Colorado Avalanche, but he turned it down at the time. He did say he might want to coach in the NHL in the future.

In September 2012, Roy became a hockey analyst for a French-Canadian TV show called l'Antichambre. On the show, he was reunited with his former coach, Mario Tremblay.

NHL Coaching Career

Roy behind the bench as the head coach of the New York Islanders during a game in 2024

On May 23, 2013, Roy was named head coach and vice-president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche. He had a lot of power over hockey decisions for the team. His former Avalanche teammate, Joe Sakic, also joined the team's management.

Roy's first game as coach of the Colorado Avalanche was on October 2, 2013. They won 6–1 against the Anaheim Ducks. During that game, Roy had a shouting match with the Ducks' head coach, Bruce Boudreau. Roy won his first six games as a rookie coach, tying a record.

In the 2013–14 season, the Avalanche had a great year. They won their division and tied a team record with 52 wins. For his team's success, Roy won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach.

In the 2014 playoffs, the Avalanche lost in the first round. On August 11, 2016, Roy stepped down from his coaching and executive roles with the Avalanche. He said he wanted more say in team decisions.

On January 20, 2024, the New York Islanders hired Roy as their new head coach. He made his Islanders debut on January 21 and earned his first win with the team.

Personal Life

Patrick Roy married Michèle Piuze on June 9, 1990. They have three children: Jonathan, Frederick, and Jana. His sons, Frederick and Jonathan, both played for the Quebec Remparts when Roy was the coach. Jonathan has since left hockey to become a singer.

Patrick Roy and Michèle Piuze divorced in 2005. Roy has not remarried.

Since the 1980s, Roy has been a big supporter of the Ronald McDonald House charity, which helps families of sick children.

Roy was known for some interesting habits. He often talked to the net posts during games. He also never spoke to reporters on days he was scheduled to play. Another habit was that he refused to let his skates touch the red and blue lines on the ice, always stepping over them.

Hockey Legacy

A banner with Roy's number 33 hung alongside other banners of retired numbers with the Avalanche

Roy won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender in 1989, 1990, and 1992. He won the William M. Jennings Trophy (for allowing the fewest goals) five times: 1987, 1988, 1989 (all shared with Brian Hayward), 1992, and 2002. He led the NHL in shutouts and goals against average twice. He was named a First Team All-Star four times and played in 11 National Hockey League All-Star Games. Roy also holds the record for most Conn Smythe Trophies won, with three (1986, 1993, and 2001).

Among his many NHL goaltending records, Roy holds the record for most career playoff games played by a goaltender (247) and most career playoff wins (151). He was the first NHL goaltender to play 1,000 NHL games and the first to win 500 games.

The Colorado Avalanche retired Roy's number 33 jersey on October 28, 2003. The Montreal Canadiens also retired his number 33 jersey on November 22, 2008. This makes Roy one of only a few NHL players to have his number retired by two different teams. Roy was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006, in his first year of eligibility.

Roy won over 200 games with both the Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche. He is also known for influencing the jersey numbers that NHL goaltenders choose, with many goalies now picking numbers in the 30s because of him and Terry Sawchuk.

Baseball player Justin Morneau, who won the American League MVP award, wore number 33 as a tribute to Patrick Roy.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Head Coaching Record

NHL Coaching Record

QMJHL Coaching Record

Career Achievements and Awards

Milestones

• His jersey number 30 has been retired by the Granby Bisons
• His jersey number 33 has been retired by the Colorado Avalanche and the Montreal Canadiens
• In 1998, he was ranked number 22 on The Hockey News' list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players
• The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame 2004
• Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame 2004
• Hockey Hall of Fame inductee 2006
• Canada's Sports Hall of Fame 2010
• Was ranked #5 in The Hockey News' The Top 60 Since 1967 – the best players of the post-expansion era

Records

• Most NHL playoff games played by a goaltender (247) (third-most playoff games of all players)
• Most NHL playoff wins by a goaltender (151)
• First NHL goaltender to play 1,000 NHL games (later passed by Martin Brodeur)
• First NHL goaltender to win 500 games
• Most Conn Smythe Trophy wins – 3

Awards as a Player

Engravings of the 2001 Colorado Avalanche on the Stanley Cup. Roy's name is engraved on the second last row of names.

• Calder Cup – 1985
• Stanley Cup – 1986, 1993 (Montreal); 1996, 2001 (Colorado)
• Conn Smythe Trophy – 1986, 1993, 2001
• William M. Jennings Trophy – 1987*, 1988*, 1989*, 1992, 2002
• Vezina Trophy – 1989, 1990, 1992
• NHL All-Star Game – 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003
• NHL first All-Star team – 1989, 1990, 1992, 2002
• NHL second All-Star team – 1988, 1991
• NHL All-Rookie Team – 1986
• Trico Goaltending Award – 1989, 1990
• The Colorado Avalanche retired Roy's number 33 jersey on October 28, 2003
• The Montreal Canadiens retired Roy's number 33 jersey on November 22, 2008

* Shared with Brian Hayward

Awards as a Coach

• Memorial Cup – with Quebec Remparts in 2006 and 2023
• Jack Adams Award – 2014
• Maurice Filion Trophy – 2022
• Gilles-Courteau Trophy - with Quebec Remparts in 2023

See also

• List of NHL goaltenders with 300 wins
• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played